Page 43 of Magnolia Summer

When the dance was over, she gave a slight curtsy to Worley, then moved to Ruby’s side. Ruby’s eyes were as big as saucers. She turned in Truett’s direction, but Celia wouldn’t look at him. He would have given quite a sum to hear what the two of them were saying.

Ruby squeezed her arm and giggled, then turned away. Celia went to round up her family.

His thoughts still churning, he walked over to offer his assistance. Tempie was asleep in her mother’s lap, so he squatted beside her and lifted the little girl in his arms. He carried her to their wagon and lay her on a quilt. Next, he helped her mother up onto the seat.

“Oh, Celia, you and Truett were the best dancers on the floor!” Lizzie bounced with enthusiasm on the back of the wagon. “And you looked like you were having so much fun! I’ve never seen you looking so happy.”

Truett risked a glance at Celia. She glared at Lizzie, as if trying to silence her sister.

Celia helped Harley into the back of the wagon, and he sat beside his sleeping sister. There was just enough room on the seat for Truett, Mrs. Wilcox, and one more person. Everyone else was seated, so he held out his hand to Celia. She took it, holding up her skirt to sit by her mother, and he helped her up, but she didn’t look at him.

When they were all in, Truett climbed onto the seat and set the horses in motion toward home.

All the anticipation and enjoyment had gone out of him, as Celia’s mood had clearly changed toward him. Was she angry with something he had done? But he couldn’t think of anything that might have offended her. When he’d walked away from her to help his mother, she’d looked perfectly amiable. But when he came back, her attitude was just the opposite. It didn’t make any kind of sense.

But he wouldn’t let her get away with this sudden change. No, he would force her to tell him what he’d done. He couldn’t have been mistaken about the warmth he’d seen in her eyes.

He relived the way she’d gazed up at him, friendly and smiling.

Twenty minutes later, he turned the horses into the Wilcox place. He was decided. It might not be strictly the gentlemanly thing to do, but he couldn’t let her get away tonight without at least trying to get out of her some sort of explanation.

* * *

Celia smoothedher face into cool lines. She would thank Truett for escorting them home—without looking him in the eye—and bid him good night. She would refuse to even glance at him, since she wasn’t confident that she’d otherwise be able to keep up the frosty façade.

She wouldn’t let him ruin her plans. If she ever wanted to leave this place without breaking her heart, she had to focus on getting back to Nashville.

The wagon stopped and Celia scrambled down from the wagon seat before Truett could come around and help her. She hurried to the back of the wagon and gently slid Tempie’s sleeping form to the end so she could pick her up.

Oh no!Harley was asleep too. She couldn’t carry them both. If only Will could take Harley, but Will was still hobbling around on his crutch, and while she stood there trying to decide what to do, Will and Lizzie and Mama were already walking toward the house.

She bit her lip and carefully lifted Tempie, hoping she could get her little sister to the house before Truett—

She almost bumped into him when she turned around.

She held Tempie, refusing to look at him. “I can carry them both into the house. You can unhitch one of the horses and ride home.”

Truett grunted. She looked up, and the moonlight showed his expression—his lips a grim line, his eyes almost fierce.

She should have kept her promise not to look him in the eye.

He brushed past her, climbed into the wagon bed, and lifted Harley in his arms. He lowered himself to sit at the end of the wagon, then got down, still holding the sleeping child against his shoulder.

Standing beside Celia, he seemed to be challenging her, waiting to see if she would try and stop him from carrying her little brother inside.

Come on, Harley, wake up. Insist he let you down so you can walk.But the child didn’t stir, and Celia was forced to let Truett carry him. She turned and walked toward the house.

Truett followed her up the steps, across the porch, and through the front door.

She stepped around a doll on the floor. She could feel Truett’s eyes on her but didn’t turn to look. She stood in the door of Will and Harley’s bedroom. Pointing with her head at the bed against the opposite wall, she whispered, “You can lay Harley over there.”

She continued on to Mama’s bedroom and lay Tempie on the bed. Mama was already putting on her nightgown and barely glanced at Celia as she closed the door behind her.

The house was completely quiet. Where were Will and Lizzie? She peered down the hall that led to the kitchen but saw no light from that direction. The other way led past her and her siblings’ bedroom—and Truett. Had he already left?

She tip-toed softly and peeked inside Harley’s room. Truett was bent over Harley’s bed as he pulled the sheet over the little boy, tucking it gently under his chin and around his arms and legs.

Celia’s stomach flipped at the tender way he treated her little brother.